Newcastle boss Pardew not panicking over Demba Ba form

Ba has struggled for sharpness since his summer move from West Ham United but Pardew feels that brighter days are over the horizon for the Senegal striker.

Not much has been made of Ba's fasting, which is something that Pardew was reticent to discuss in public even if he felt it might have had an effect on his summer signing.

"It's not that I haven't been prepared to talk about anything, I just feel that some issues are personal and that's a religious thing they have to go through," he said. "As far as their performance levels are concerned, it is going to have some impact, there's no doubt about it, but they're through that now.

"And, especially with a striker like Demba is, that sharpness is very, very important and I think he's lacked that a little bit.

"Once he gets that back and it won't take him long, he's going to be a very good player for us."